Combined storage and vending apparatus.



G. H. HILLYBR.

COMBINED STORAGE AND VENDING APPARATUS.

Patented Sept. 26, 1911.

'3 SHEETS-SHEET}.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-18, 1911.

3nnentors G. H. I 1 ILLY ER. COMBINED STORAGE AND VENDING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-18. 1911. Patented Sept. 26, 1911.

3 SHEETBBHEBT 2.

Zhwcmors witnesses attorneys G. H. HILLYBR.

COMBINED STORAGE AND vmme APPARATUS.

Patented Sept. 26, 191 1.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

APPLIOATION nun mama. 1911.

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' v mmcntors (WWW Gltorucgi UNITED STATFEFATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE HENRY HILL-YER, OF PLATTSBURG, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO EDWARD A. CONNELL, OF PLATTSBURG, NEW YORK.

COMBINED STORAGE AND VENDING APPARATUS.

Application filed January 18, 1911.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE HEN Y HILL- run, a citizen of the United States, residing at Plat-tsburg, in the county of Clinton and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined Storage and Vending Apparatus; and I do hereby declare the following to. be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to' which it appertains to make and use the I same.

This invention relates to improvements in article vending machines, and particularly to machlnes for vending or delivering 'bot- .tles from a storage housing or receptacle,

and has for an object the arrangement of improved means for delivering articles from a storage receptacle through an improved seal or trap.

Another object in view is the arrangement of an elevator structure in combination with a trap and delivering structure for transporting or delivering bottles or other articles from' a storage receptacle through a trap or seal without necessitating the exposure of any of the stored articles to the atmosphere, except the article being delivered.

A further object of theinvention is the arrangement of a receptacle, as for instance a refrigerator receptacle, formed with a dividing wall falling short of the bottom and co-actingwith a false bottom, whereby a trap or seal is formed, the receptacle coacting with a mechanism for delivering bottles or other articles through the seal, and an elevator for receiving and transporting the delivered bottles or articles to a discharge point.

With these and other objects in view the invention comprises certain novel constructions, combinations, and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and-claimed;

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a front view of an embodiment of the instructure shown in vention shown appliedto a combined refrigerator and buffet. Fig. 2 1s an enlarged side view ofthe operating mechanism shown in Fig. 1. Fig. '3 1s a top plan v1ew of the Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, except that Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 26, 1911.

Serial No. 603,342.

the same discloses a slightly modified form of the invention for elevating. Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the structure shown'in Fig. 5.

n constructing a device embodying the invention a receptacle is provided, and means for delivering articles therefrom. The device is especially adapted for use with refrigerator or storage devices from which articles, as for instance bottles, are vended or taken one or two at a time. When used with a refrigerator a water seal structure is provided with means for permitting the discharge of one or twobottles at a time to an elevator which raises the discharged bottles successively to a suitable discharge point. The structure of the discharge mechanism and the elevator, together with the water seal, is such as to permit the discharge and removal of the bottles from the refrigerator without opening and exposing the refrigerator to the atmosphere.

- In order that the invention may be more clearly understood an embodiment of the same is shown in the accompanying drawings in which 1 indicates a buffet or refrigerator of any desired kind, provided with an ice or cooling chamber 2. The chamber 2 has arranged therein an ice receptacle 3 for supporting ice which maintains the chamber in a cooled condition. Chamber 2 is provided with an inclined false bottom 4,

comprising a plurality of rails, and a partition 5. The bottom 4 supports the bottles 6 but permits the same to readily move down the incline toward partition 5, while "partition 5 divides the chamber 2 into a large compartment and a small compartment or water seal 7 The partition 5 falls short of the false bottom 4 so as to provide an opening 8 through which the bottles 6 pass before they reach the elevator 9. The false bottom 4 is provided with a turned up end 10 for arresting the movement of the bottles, and for holding the bottles in position to be engaged by the hooks or flights 11 and 12 of elevator 9. The elevator 9 is formed with flights 11 and 12, and chains 13 and 14 which pass over sprocket wheels 15--15 and 16-16. Sprocket wheels 15-45 are arranged opposite the end of false bot: tom 4, while sprocket wheels 16-16 are arranged at the to ofthe' elevator, and are partially inclose by a housing 17 which has a hmged door 18 automatically closed easily pass therethrough in a similar manner to the way the flights pass through false vious to their discharge.

by'its own weight or by a suitable spring as preferred. Door 18' opensoutwa'rd so that when the elevator moves a bottle up into housing 17 and discharges the bottle on fingers 19 the weight of the bottle will open door 18 and permit the bottle to move outward on the top of the buffet 1 or any other suitable support which .may be provided. Immediately upon the passage of the bottle out of housing 17 the door 18 will close and preventthe entrance of any air into the elevator shaft. The guiding fingers 19 are arranged so that the flights 11 and 12 may bottom 4 which is constructed preferably of a plurality of strips of material spaced apart. When a bottle is resting against the end 10 of false bottom 4 one pair of the.

flights 11 and 12 will engage the under surface of the bottle. near the bottom and at the neck portion and bodily raise the bottle and move the same over the upper sprocket wheels 16-16 until the same is discharged on fingers 19. The chamber 2 and water seal 7 are maintained full of water which is placed in the chamber 2 and water seal by any desired means which forces water through opening 20. When the chamber 2 has been filled any excess water will flow out the vent 21. Qrdinarily the chamber is filled, and then the water is turned off from opening 20 so there will be no addition of water except from the melting ice in receptacle 3 which may easily flow out vent 21. By providing chilled water in which the bottles 6 are submerged the same are maintained in a cooled medium until just pre- The elevator 9 may be of any desired height, and may contain any desired number of flights 11 and 12, from one up to any number, so that. if desired the elevator may be provided with a number of bottles partly raised, or may each time a bottle is discharged raise the same from end 10.

In order "to prevent the bottles 6 from forming a wedge or angle structure, and consequently not feeding out opening '8, a discharge mechanism is provided. The discharge mechanism is formed with one or more cams 22 which engage a single bottle and move the same through opening 8. Cams 22 are rigidly secured to a' shaft 23 which is mounted in suitable bearings .or supporting brackets 24 and which carry a sprocket wheel 25. Sprocket wheel 25 is arranged to accommodate a chain 26 which passes over sprocket wheel 27 rigidly secured to shaft 28, which has rigidly secured thereto sprocket wheels 1515. Associated with cams 22 are retaining or retarding fingers 29 which are designed to hold back the bottom bottle and to permit the free entranceof a single bottle between bottom 4 through door 18.

of the fingers are moved both will be moved.

Both of the fingers 29 are arranged to normally engage or rest against shaft 23, but may be moved therefrom by pin 32 which projects from one of the cams 22. Upon each rotation of the cams 22 pin 32 will strike one of the fingers29 and raise the same against the actlon of tens1on or retractile spring 33. The raising of'one end of each of the fingers 29 will cause the operating ends 34 to be lowered for'permitting the lowermost'bottle 6 to pass if there are no other bottles in line for passing through the opening between extension 80 and bottom 4. The sprocket "wheels 25 and 27 are so proportioned as to cause the proper rotation of cams 22 for discharging a bottle in proper time for the respectiveflights to engage the same.

Elevator 9 is arranged to receive bottles successively from the discharge mechanism,

and is prevented from reverse rotation by a suitable pawl 35 and ratchet wheel 36, but permitted a free forward movement. 'Whenever it is desired to remove one or more bottles from chamber 2 handle 37, which is rigidly connected with sprocket wheels 16-46 through shaft 38, is turned until the desired number of bottles have been discharged As the chain of the elevator moves shaft 28 will be moved and power will be conveyed therefrom to sprocket wheel 27, and from thence through chain 29 to sprocket wheel 25 whichis rigidly secured to shaft 23 to which are secured cams 22.

Sometimes it is found desirable to vend or discharge two bottles at the same time, and in order to do this a slightly modified form .of the invention may be employed, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Referring more part1cularly to these figures it will be observed that a third chain is used, namely chain .39, which passes' over sprocketwheels 40 and 41 secured to shafts'38 and 28 respectively. Cams 22' are constructed and arranged to operate similar to cams 22, but are formed more numerous to accommodate the'length of two bottles instead of one. When the construction shown in Figs. 5 and 6 is used the bottles 6 are arranged in the chamber 2 with their necks adjacent so that the central flights 42 will engage the necks of' the bottles, whilethe side flights 11 and 12 will engage the butt ends of the bottles. lnathe preferred structure the flight 11 is positioned slightlybelow the flight 12 so as to 'in this manner holds the bottle substantially horizontal. In the modified form shown in Fig. 6 the [lights 11 and 12 are arranged the same height, while flight 42 is arranged slightly above flights 11 and 12. The remaining constructions of the modified form are similar to the corresponding constructions of the preferred form, and will therefore need no further description. It will be evident that an elevator of either kind may be used with the bullet 1, or if desired the elevators may be arranged for accommodating more than two bottles, the principle re maining the same, namely the delivery of bottles through a water seal without necessitating the opening of the chamber 2.

\Vhat I claim is:

1. In a device of the character described, a receptacle, means for substantially maintaining the same full of water, a depending wall arranged for dividing the receptacle into a storage chamber anda well, the depending wall falling short of the bottom of the receptacle, whereby a discharge opening is provided in the form of a water seal, and means for positively ejecting articles'successively from said storage chamber and at the same time preventing the articles not discharged from entering said discharge opening, and an elevator arranged in said well for elevating the articles discharged through said discharge openin 2. In a device of the character described, the combination wit-h a storage receptacle provided with a water seal through which articles are delivered, of an elevator arranged to have one end project in said water seal and move said articles successively therefrom, said elevator comprising a plurality of flights, a plurality of endless chains, and means for operating the same, and a discharge guiding member arranged at the end of said elevator opposite to the end positioned in said well for receiving and guiding articles from said elevator, said discharge means comprising a plurality of in clined fingers between which said flights may pass and over which the articles are directed.

3. In a device of the character described, a receptacle formed with a partition falling short of the bottom of the receptacle for dividing the receptacle into a storage chamber and an elevator well, a rotating member for discharging articles from said storage chamber into said well, means for holding the articles in the storage chamber so that the same will move against the discharge memher one at a time, an elevator arranged in said well for elevating the articles delivered into the well, means for operating the elevator, and means for conveying movement from the elevator to the discharge member for causing the discharge member to operate in proper relationship to the operation of the elevator.

4. In a device of the character described, a receptacle, a dividing wall arranged in the receptacle for dividing the receptacle into a storage chamber and an elevator well, said dividing wall falling short of the bottom of the receptacle, an inclined bottom structure arranged in the storage chamber and extending into said elevator well through said opening, whereby articles in the storage receptacle may move by gravity through said opening, means arranged at said opening for alining the articles attempting to pass through said opening, whereby said articles will pass one at a time through said opening, an elevator arranged in said elevator well and adapted to elevate articles deposited in the well, and means for operating the elevator.

In a device of the character described, a receptacle, a dividing wall arranged to divide said receptacle, into a storage chamber and an elevator well, said wall falling short of the bottom of the receptacle, whereby an opening is left which, together with the well, forms a trap through which articles in the storage chamber may be moved to the exterior of thereceptacle, means for maintaining water in said receptacle at a predetermined level for continuously providing water for said trap, an elevator arranged in said elevator well, a discharge member arranged ncar said opening for discharging articles from said storage chamber into said elevator well, and means for causing the articles to become alined before being engaged by said discharge member.

6. In a device of the character described, a receptacle, a dividing wall in said receptacle arranged to divide the receptacle into a storage'chamber and an elevator well, said dividing wall falling short'of the bottom of the receptacle for providing an opening between the storage chamber and the elevator well, an elevator arranged in said well designed to elevate articles forced therein from said storage chamber, a discharge member for forcing articles from said storage chamher into said elevator well, and retaining and alining fingers for causing the articles in the storage chamber to be engaged by the discharge member in a predetermined sequence.

7. In a device of the cha 'acter described, a receptacle, a depending wall for dividing the receptacle into a storage chamber and an elevator well, said wall falling short of the bottom of the receptacle for defining a discharge opening, means for forcing articles through said discharge opening from said storage chamber into said elevator well, retaining and alining finger arranged adjacent said discharge mcmber for causing the articles in the storage chamber to properly engage the discharge member, a deflecting member extending from said dividing wall for assisting said deflecting member in preperly alining said articles, an elevator arranged in sald elevator well for elevating articles placed in the well, and means for causing the elevator and said disclmrge memher to operate in a predetermined relationship to each other, whereby the elevator moves an article out of the ele 'ator well each time said discharge member moves an arti- (l0 from the storage chandler into the elcva: tor well.

v 8. In a device of the character described, a receptacle, a dividing wall arranged in the receptacle for dividing the same into a storage chamber and an elevator well, said division wall falling short of the bottom of the receptacle for defining a discharge opening, a rotating cam arranged to engage and more an article from the storage chamber into the elevator well upon each rotation of the cam, an elevator arranged in the elevator well adapted to remove articles placed therein, and means connecting the elevator and said cam for causing the cam to operate in timed relationship to the elevator for preventing the camfrom discharging more articles into the elevator well than the elevator can.remove. I

r 9. In a device of the character described, -a receptacle, a dividing wall a1" 'anged therein for dividing the receptacle into a storage chamber and an elevator well, said Wall fallin g short of the bottom of the receptacle for defining a discharge opening for the receptacle, means for successively discharging articles from the storage chamber into the elevator well through said discharge opening, an elevator arranged in said elevator well designed to engage and elevate said articles as the same are discharged into the well,

.anda plurality of discharge fingers arranged to engage and guide the articles from said elevator after the same have been moved to the discharge point.

In testimony whermt' I afiiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE HENRY H'HJLYER. \Vitnesses \V. L. PATTIsSON, F. A. CONNELL. 

